“Remember when all you needed was a cool business card? Now social status is determined in a hundred ways that all come with their own pressures: How many Twitter followers do you have? How many Facebook page likes? How much traffic does your site get? Are you speaking? Traveling? How full is your inbox? While pressure has always been there, in many ways that pressure is more public than ever. The world is both bigger and smaller today. With access to so much media—and at such a rapid pace—we know everything that’s going on in the world. We are bombarded with possibilities and opportunities, and it seems like our choices are limitless. In this world, it’s easy to feel like your life is small, that you aren’t doing enough, that other lives, careers, and even cities are more exciting than yours. The challenge today is, with limitless public pressure on how your life measures up against everyone else’s, how do you find contentment?”

“Twentysomethings today are different than twentysomethings of any other generation. But you already know that—you’re redefining what it looks like to “grow up,” contribute to society, and live a meaningful life. You’ve kept optimistic even in this struggling economy, and the world can’t wait to see what you’ll do next—even if it doesn’t always understand you. Even so, big questions lie ahead—questions about work, calling, marriage, family, faith and more. How you relate to these institutions will have huge ramifications—for your own life, of course, but also for the rest of society because institutions need new ways of relating to you as well. 20 and Something is your field guide for making this decade count—and for helping those in your life understand you and the road you’re navigating.”

Fighting for Peace by Carol Howard Merritt and Tyler Wigg-Stevenson
Christians in a Culture of Violence

“Blessed are the peacemakers,” Jesus said. But in the face of the horrific realities of school shootings, war, bullying and domestic abuse we feel helpless to address such overwhelming violence. Then we turn on a movie, play a video game and we’re faced with decisions about the violence we (and our children) are consuming. Certainly, we can pray for peace. But maybe it’s time to start fighting for it, too. Fighting for Peace is a thought-provoking and practical guide for answering God’s call to become peacemakers and championing the kind of peace that can reshape our hearts, our homes, our communities and our broken world.

Your turn… Have you read any of the FRAMES yet? If so, which ones are your favorites? What thoughts do you have about them?